Counselors provide academic advising and assistance with registration and drop and add procedures for the following student categories:
Registration
Counselors see these students when they are invited in groups to an orientation/registration session, by appointment in their individual offices, or in a “Drop-In” session in the Counseling Center. Counselors should follow these procedures when providing assistance to students for registration or drop and add:
New Students
Counselors will discuss with students educational issues such as: their academic and career goals, major selection, transfer planning. Counselors will also discuss with student personal concerns such as: work load and hours, childcare, family responsibilities, financing education, etc.
Taking into consideration each individual student’s situation, counselors will make recommendations as to what courses the student should register for his/her first (and at times for subsequent semesters) semester. Counselors will help students with course selection and scheduling.
Counselors will inform students about support services offered by Community College of Philadelphia. This information is provided to the students in printed form.
Re-admitted Students
Re-admitted students in good standing are treated the same as new students, but counselors must take into consideration the students previous course-work and academic performance.
Undecided Students
Counselors provide academic advising to undecided (continuing) students. Counselors provide assistance to these students with course selection and career decision making. Many of the issues addressed by counselors while dealing with new students or with students on academic probation are also pertinent when seeing undecided students.
Students on Academic Probation
Counselors also provide assistance with registration to students on academic probation. Depending on their individual situation, counselors explore strategies for students to improve their academic performance. These strategies could include:
Students finding it necessary to withdraw entirely (drop all courses) from a semester must consult with a counselor. The counselor will discuss the situation with the student and, if possible suggest alternatives to withdrawing. If the situation does warrant complete withdrawal, the counselor will explain the consequences of such action and assist the student in filling out the official Withdrawal Form. It is the student's responsibility to take the signed form to Enrollment Services (Bonnell Building, ground floor)) to complete this process. Under special circumstances, students withdrawing from school might qualify for an "excused withdrawal". This type of withdrawal is not counted against the student academic progress. Counselors will advise these students to complete a Special Request Form for Excused Withdrawal. This form is available from the Counseling Department Intake Receptionist or at the Enrollment Services counter.
Dropping Classes
Students who want to drop one or several classes, but who wish to keep at least one class, are encouraged to see a counselor. Whenever possible, the counselor will help the student to keep the class(es). If the student still wants to drop the class(es), the counselor will sign the drop side of the Drop and Add Form.
Counselors are available to assist students and faculty in situations that require conflict resolution. Students who are experiencing difficulties communicating with instructors could seek the assistance of a counselor. In the same manner, counselors could help faculty who are having problems communicating with particular students. The counselor's intervention in these situations, like all other counseling interactions with students and faculty, is confidential.
The Counseling Department has published a Faculty Referal Guide to assist faculty in these and other matters. Copies of this guide can be obtained from the Department Head of Counseling by calling (215) 751-8166.
